We talked the matter over, and at last called upon Sam Gumbert. The Englishman was more than willing to listen to us, and leaning down into the hold he whispered hoarsely: "I'll get ye out of the scrape—and get myself too. They are a set of villains aboard this craft!"
"Right you are, Gumbert," answered Oliver, and then told him what we would do for him when Hilo was reached in safety. A little later Gumbert went off, to return with some food from the galley and with an old-fashioned pistol which he had had stowed away in his locker.
"Here's a shooting-iron," he whispered. "She's a good one, too, even if she is old. No, don't say for me to keep it. I've got another—one that I cribbed from one of the Dagoes."
"Why you no come on deck?" asked Larvello, as he came up, a few minutes after. "Better up here dan down there."
"We'll stay right where we are," answered Oliver.
"You going to arrest us?"
"Not if you behave yourselves."
"Are you going to have me arrested?" howled Captain Marcale.
"That remains to be seen," I put in.
A long talk ensued, which it would not be worth while to transcribe to these pages. Captain Marcale pleaded to be let go, but we were ob-
